View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Wednesday 19 November

Chucking it down this morning with a strong westerly wind. The temperature, 11C / 52F, is academical in conditions like that. We're supposed to get a dip in temps by Friday, introducing a few flurries of snow here in Lewis. Mainland Scotland and the Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland) will get rather more of the white stuff.

If you're in the UK, you may have had an email from HM Customs & Revenue that several hundred pounds are waiting for you. You guessed it, it's a scam. Looks convincing, except for the usual pointers like spelling mistakes etc. I copy an article from a local news website:

Trading Standards Officers are warning the public to beware of an email claiming to offer a tax refund.The email is supposedly from HM Customs and Revenue but is actually an attempt to gain personal information.
A spokesperson said: “This email looks genuine and offers a refund of hundreds of pounds in return for sending personal information. It is a scam designed to get people to send their personal information and should be deleted. Banks, Customs and Revenue etc would never ask for such information by email and similar scams should be similarly deleted.”

4 comments:

  1. It seems there is always some terrible scam going around. I don't read any e-mail that doesn't look familiar. At tax time the govenment always issues a warning that they do not sent e-mails. 'On Ya'-ma

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  2. I just got an e-mail from the IRS supposedly saying I had $600 dollars waiting for me, but it did not look official and I just deleted it, but wondered if others would fall for it and what was at the end of it. I know the IRS doesn't send e-mails either. I am glad you warned people as it is going around in the U.S., too. Gerry

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  3. Fore warned is fore armed Guido. Thanks for the warning about the scam.
    I just love that beautiful beach scene at the top of your journal!
    I can't believe that time has slipped by so quickly since the father and son drowned. God bless them.
    Jeanie

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  4. You can keep the snow over in Lewis...Don't want any for now in the north east lol

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